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saram618's review against another edition
2.0
I'm torn on how to rate this book. The first half (or maybe third) really held my attention. I liked the diary style and felt that the relationships and situations Rose was in were interesting. However, the entire rest of the book just dragged. The diary format did not work for this part of the book. There were a ton of tiny events happening around the revolution, but there wasn't enough background information, nor did Rose have the relationships and involvement in these events. It ended up being just pages on pages of seemingly unrelated blurbs. The things I loved about the first part of the book (Rose's life and interactions) got lost. Characters came and went without real development. People popped in and out of the story without purpose or explanation. I ended up losing interest and just turning pages hoping for it to either get better or end.
I'd give the first part 3.5 stars, but the rest 2. Being the 2nd part is what is freshest in my memory, I'm going to have to go with 2 stars.
I'd give the first part 3.5 stars, but the rest 2. Being the 2nd part is what is freshest in my memory, I'm going to have to go with 2 stars.
kylamae's review against another edition
5.0
This was a beautifully crafted book. Written in the voice of Josephine after nearly a decade of research by the author, it is intensely captivating and is one of my all time favorite books- along with the two that follow it in the trilogy. If you're a sucker for historical fiction it is an absolute MUST read.
jennutley's review against another edition
4.0
Continuing on my historical fiction jag, I picked this up because it was recommended in the Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List.
This was a quick read due to the diary form. And I was fascinated (and horrified) by the background of the Reign of Terror (which makes for good Wikipedia strings afterwards). I did not realize this was the first of a trilogy and was surprised that 3/4 of the way through the book we had not even met Napolean yet. I liked the book enough that I am looking forward to the next two.
I don't think that Josephine could have been such an amazing woman as the book depicts her--definitely some creative license there. I don't mind have heroes that do stupid things and make bad decisions. I would have preferred her to be a little more gritty.
I will admit, I am also a sucker for a book that tells history from a woman's point of view.
Sex, Violence and Language Meter
The book has many sexual situations but are not graphic: 4. There is a lot of violence (it was the Revolution after all) but mostly we read about it and it takes place off stage: 7. No language really: 1.
This was a quick read due to the diary form. And I was fascinated (and horrified) by the background of the Reign of Terror (which makes for good Wikipedia strings afterwards). I did not realize this was the first of a trilogy and was surprised that 3/4 of the way through the book we had not even met Napolean yet. I liked the book enough that I am looking forward to the next two.
I don't think that Josephine could have been such an amazing woman as the book depicts her--definitely some creative license there. I don't mind have heroes that do stupid things and make bad decisions. I would have preferred her to be a little more gritty.
I will admit, I am also a sucker for a book that tells history from a woman's point of view.
Sex, Violence and Language Meter
The book has many sexual situations but are not graphic: 4. There is a lot of violence (it was the Revolution after all) but mostly we read about it and it takes place off stage: 7. No language really: 1.
magmae's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an engaging read. My sister- and mother-in-law raved about it until I found myself furtively reading it in between family events and finishing it 36 hours later. I can't wait to dig into #2 and #3 ... and then to fact-check them all!
kadomi's review against another edition
4.0
I unexpectedly really enjoyed this book. My recent forays into historical fiction have been unsuccessful, but this was really good. Written mostly in first person narrative in form of Josephine's diary, the first book of the trilogy looks into the life of the later Empress Josephine Bonaparte, who was actually named Marie Josephe Rose when she was born on Martinique. We learn her story from her childhood on Martinique through her marriage in France and life during the French Revolution. The book ends with her second marriage, to Napoleon.
Back in highschool, the only time that I enjoyed history class was when our French teacher made us learn about the French revolution. Some of that fervor came back to me when I read this book, especially realizing what a scary time it must have been during the Reign of Terror.
In any case Rose was a wonderful lens to gaze at life during the French Revolution, and I am definitely invested to read the other books now.
Back in highschool, the only time that I enjoyed history class was when our French teacher made us learn about the French revolution. Some of that fervor came back to me when I read this book, especially realizing what a scary time it must have been during the Reign of Terror.
In any case Rose was a wonderful lens to gaze at life during the French Revolution, and I am definitely invested to read the other books now.
misajane79's review against another edition
3.0
Fictionalized diary of the woman who became Napoleon's Josephine. Throughout the entire book, I was wishing I knew more about the French revolution. I also expected Napoleon to enter the picture a lot earlier. Not bad, and pretty readable, but I probably won't pick up the rest of the books in the trilogy. Sometimes the diary format just doesn't quite work.
bluegreen's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
readcover2cover's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know anything about Josephine Bonaparte before reading this book, but I was so interested to learn more about her! This is the first book in a 3-book series about her life. This one is about her life from age 15 to age 33. Throughout the book, the author would occasionally insert footnotes to explain a name or situation more fully in its historical context, which I really appreciated. It was clear that the author really did her research before writing this. I really liked Josephine's (or Rose's) character and I'm looking forward to learning more about her in the next two books!
simplymary's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved the first half of this book. It took me to a time and a place I knew very little about and made me feel as if I were living right alongside Rose (Josephine Bonaparte). This book chronicles, through fictionalized journal entries based on real events, the life of Napoleon's wife Josephine. We don't meet Napoleon until the very end of this book, first in the series of three, and have to endure her terrible marriage to Alexandre first. As the events of the French revolution unfold, I felt the author was trying too hard to include Rose in every thing of import that happened in that dreadful time. There were way too many characters springing up every chapter that I just couldn't keep up with. However, I like the story well enough and am interested in seeing how her relationship continues with Napoleon to continue reading volumes two and three.